I'm glad to see the Kings make to the Stanley Cup Finals. Not sure who a better match up would be between Rangers and Devils, not sure it makes much of a difference. They'll have a lot of time to recover but hopefully not get too rusty.

Also seemed like Tippet's complaints about embellishments did the trick, Yotes were getting away with a lot, but evidently they don't listen to their own coach.

I think a lot of those plays where someone crashes into Smith would normally be interference but Smith doesn't get those types of calls because he often fights back. He got the one in Game 3 where he was ran into from behind and the one from Game 4 (which was a weak call), but he doesn't get them when people crash in on him and just bowl him over. Does he fight back because he knows he's most likely not getting a call or does he not get the call because he always fights back. Whoa.

Compare that to the play Boedkker made on the other end. He could have easily stopped at the crease and allowed the defenseman to push him into Quick but he leapt over him and avoided contact entirely. Even then Quick was complaining to the ref about interference.

I thought it was a really good game that had bad calls on both sides. Phoenix looked like they figured out how to play LA in Game 3 but it was too late.

The only way he was going to come back was if Nick insisted it as part of him coming back (they are like best buds). Homer is nearly as old and incredibly more beat up. Generally didn't see much 5 on 5 time, being only a power play specialist (on a power play that seemed to really struggle this year).

Yeah, I can't imagine Tomas will be back either. He's dropped from being a 1st liner to a 4th (and 2nd PP unit). He's been abused at the top of the crease for a long time. It takes a heck of a toll on the body.

I'd expect that Z gets the C. Not sure who'd get the other A.

Looks like those rumors of them trying to get both Parise and one of either Weber/Suter are going to be back in full force. They've got a lot of cap room and a dynasty to attract premier talent. Should be interesting to see what Kenny Holland can whip up.

Holland has never before gone after an RFA. Wings tend to have poor draft position as things normally go so no point in having to give up more picks to get Weber. Suter is a definite try. I figure since he signed yet he'll hit the open market. With Lidstrom retiring they have the cap room to go after both Parise and Suter aggressively. Probably just would have been Suter if Lidstrom wasn't retiring. I no longer have a desire to see Weber join the Wings after that WWF move he pulled on Zetterberg this year.

Anyways, just saw the dumbest article on Puck Daddy criticizing Lidstrom for announcing his retirement during the Finals. Nevermind that every is bored waiting for the next game and it was on an off day, and that he said he'd let the club know before June 1.

One of the reasons claimed it was a bad idea is that Nick deserves a week of articles and retrospectives, but now everyone will be focusing on game 2. Then the author spent half the article on the Calgary Flames. So that author is a moron.

Anyways, just saw the dumbest article on Puck Daddy criticizing Lidstrom for announcing his retirement during the Finals. Nevermind that every is bored waiting for the next game and it was on an off day, and that he said he'd let the club know before June 1.

One of the reasons claimed it was a bad idea is that Nick deserves a week of articles and retrospectives, but now everyone will be focusing on game 2. Then the author spent half the article on the Calgary Flames. So that author is a moron.

To add on to this, checking both NHL.com and TSN.ca no front page articles about Lidstrom. It's only been one day and still an off day for the SCF games and the media has already moved on to "who's the new coach at X" and Tim Thomas should really quit time. Words cannot express how stupid I think that Puck Daddy author is. That guy is not qualified to write on walls of my colon, let alone the internet.